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    Man City hero Jack Grealish’s muscular calves turned into calendar for third time

    JACK Grealish fans can get a kick out of a calendar of his muscular calves.Kevin Beresford, 71, created it a third time, saying the Man City ace’s pins, are even “more defined and groomed”.
    Jack Grealish fans can get a kick out of a calendarCredit: Getty
    A fan created a wacky calendar of the ace’s muscular calvesCredit: dullkev.com
    It’s a step up from the Worcestershire man’s other previous calendars celebrating allotments, car parks and roundabouts.
    Grealish, as well as his calves, had a crucial role in Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning squad last season.
    We previously revealed how Grealish was named Manchester City’s worst dressed player — despite seeing himself as a trendsetter.
    Winger Grealish, 28, had previously said his team-mate Rodri had the most offensive clobber, describing it as “awful”.
    READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
    But the tables were turned on the England star when the Spanish midfielder said in an interview that he thought Grealish was the club’s worst dressed player.
    Grealish posted the clip on his Instagram page alongside a shocked face emoji.
    In the interview, 27-year-old Rodri is asked who is the worst-dressed on the team.
    He replies: “They say it’s me but I don’t agree. I think it’s Jack.”
    Most read in Football
    Kevin Beresford, 71, created the calendar for a third timeCredit: dullkev.com
    Kevin said the Man City ace’s pins are now even ‘more defined and groomed’Credit: dullkev.com
    The calendar is named ‘The Wonderful World of Jack Grealish’s Calves’Credit: dullkev.com
    It’s a step up from the Worcestershire man’s other previous calendarsCredit: dullkev.com
    Grealish, as well as his calves, had a crucial role in Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning squad last seasonCredit: dullkev.com More

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    How Man City and England star went from playing in the World Cup to becoming a millionaire selling toilet paper

    A LEGENDARY footballer and England star went from playing in the World Cup to becoming a millionaire toilet paper tycoon.Iconic former Manchester City striker, Francis Lee, scored 148 goals in 330 appearances for the club.
    The iconic footballer went from playing in the World Cup to a millionaire selling toilet paperCredit: Getty
    Tragic news of the England legend’s death at the age of 79 after a long battle with cancer was announced yesterday.
    The iconic player was a legend in his native Lancashire and had become a household name across a successful 17-year career.
    He won the First Division title, FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup during his seven years at Maine Road between 1967 and 1974.
    The player stared his career at Bolton in 1959, and went on to earn 27 caps for England between 1968 and 1972, scoring 10 goals.

    “Franny” Lee was awarded with Man City’s Player of the Year award in 1970 as well as the First Division Golden Boot in 1972.
    Lee won the second First Division title of his career when he joined Derby in 1974.
    Two years later year he hung up his boots. However, he returned to Man City in 1994 where he held the job of chairman for four years.
    After his retirement from playing, Francis went on to continue his successful career as a businessman.
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    The entrepreneur had set up a company manufacturing toilet and kitchen roll made from recycled paper when he was still a footballer.
    Based in his hometown of Westhoughton, Bolton, F.H Lee eventually expanded to selling handkerchiefs, kitchen foil, and cling film.
    It went on to become a major UK supplier to several huge firms.
    Comedy legend Peter Kay even worked for the company as a young man.
    Speaking to The Bolton News, Francis once said: “I was in business all the time I was playing football.
    “It was part of the condition set by my father that if I wanted to try and become a footballer I had to plan for when the game had finished.”
    He also added racehorse training to his list of profitable ventures after his final match.
    In 1984, the toilet roll company sold for a whopping £8.35million.
    Following his death, Man City released a statement yesterday  saying: “It is with the deepest sadness and heaviest of hearts we announce the passing of former Manchester City player and Chairman Francis Lee, aged 79.
    “A Club legend in every sense, Francis made 330 appearances for City, scoring 148 goals.”
    It continued: “Everyone at Manchester City would like to send their condolences to the friends and family of Francis at this very difficult time.
    “As a mark of respect, flags around the Etihad Stadium and City Football Academy are flying at half-mast.
    “More tributes from the club will follow in the coming days.”
    The England star is survived by his wife, Gill, and their three children, Charlotte, Jonny and Nik.
    Read More on The Sun
    Francis Lee scored 148 goals in 330 appearances for Manchester CityCredit: PA
    He won the First Division title, FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners’ CupCredit: PA More

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    Man Utd transfer blow as right-back target is set to sign new long-term deal with Bayer Leverkusen

    MANCHESTER UNITED have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong.Frimpong, 22, is a long-term target for United with the club having tracked him in the summer.
    Frimpong is a long-term Manchester United targetCredit: Getty
    The Dutchman is no stranger to Manchester, having played for United’s rivals City from 2010 until 2019 as a youngster.
    The right-back represented City regularly in the UEFA Youth League and Premier League Two but never played a senior game for the Cityzens.
    He then moved to Celtic in 2019 where he made 51 appearances before joining Bayer Leverkusen in 2021 for a fee of up to £11.5million.
    United looked at signing the defender in the summer but were quoted prices of up to £34million so cooled their interest to focus on other targets.
    READ MORE ON MAN UTD
    Fabrizio Romano now reports that the defender is set to sign a new long term deal with Leverkusen to extend his stay in Germany.
    Romano says the deal is set to be signed imminently and will see the defender extend his contract in 2028.
    He also claims that there is keenness on Frimpong’s side to seal the deal quickly.
    Top clubs across Europe, including United, have been tracking the defender but he appears to be happy in the Bundesliga.
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    The 22-year-old has played 103 times for Leverkusen, scoring 13 times and assisting 23 times.
    Leverkusen are the surprise package of the Bundesliga this season and currently sit top of the table.
    They play Molde on Thursday in the Europa League. More

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    Justin Allen: Guardiola’s comments show everything that’s wrong with the Prem… I’d love to see him try to boss Exeter

    PEP GUARDIOLA made two ridiculous comments during the last week that illustrate everything that is wrong with Premier League elites.Don’t get me wrong, Guardiola deserves our respect and adulation for what he has achieved at Manchester City, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. We all marvel at the exhibition of football his teams produce.
    Pep Guardiola made two ridiculous comments last week
    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was not happy with taking a two-hour bus journey home after their Carabao Cup loss at Newcastle
    But I’d love to see him try managing an EFL club to see how he’d get on.
    When he whinged about his precious City lambs forced to make a two-hour 123-mile coach journey home from Newcastle after Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie rather than fly, I wondered how he might cope if he was in charge of clubs like Exeter and Carlisle?
    Neither team have the luxury of jetting to matches — like the majority of clubs outside the top flight.
    When the Grecians, managed by Gary Caldwell, travel to deepest Cumbria — and vice versa — both teams face a SIXTEEN-HOUR journey … on a coach! That would have surely sent Pep into meltdown.
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    In August for that Saturday game, Exeter broke up their epic trip by taking their team on a five-hour bus ride on Thursday to Mottram Hall in Cheshire where they stayed overnight.
    They then did another three hours to Penrith on Friday to train with another overnight stay before playing the Cumbrians 3pm the next day.
    Exeter boss Gary Caldwell has a far harder job than Pep Guardiola
    Pep Guardiola should try swapping places with Carlisle boss Paul Simpson
    But as soon as the players were showered and changed after the game, they were herded onto a coach to take them directly back to Devon. They arrived into Exeter at almost 2am.
    At least their journey was a happy one after a 2-0 win.
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    Only Bristol Rovers sit within a two-hour radius for the Grecians in League One.
    Pep would also be sent into a spin if he swapped places with Paul Simpson at Carlisle. They are a geographical outpost in the third tier.
    Championship side Plymouth, another team out on a limb, coach to most games. 
    They did fly to Hull on Friday ahead of their clash on Humberside — although had to take a six-hour bus ride home afterwards, getting back around midnight.
    You didn’t hear Pilgrims boss Steven Schumacher whinging.
    It’s good Guardiola’s chairman isn’t Forest Green’s Just Stop Oil campaigner Dale Vince. He’d never endorse flying.
    And I dread to think how many times the likes of Erling Haaland would have to hang around doing keepie-uppies while waiting for them to charge their soon-to-be-unveiled electric bus!
    But when Pep went on to later say he was “not going to waste one per cent of energy for the Carabao Cup” before complaining about how tired his first-team stars are, I had to laugh.
    Pep backed up his reasoning by saying he couldn’t play stars such as Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias because they were “exhausted”.
    City skipper Walker, who has played most, had clocked 11 matches for club and country this season ahead of being left out at Newcastle — only being substituted once, in the 89th-minute of the Premier League opener against Burnley. 
    Yet Exeter captain Will Aimson has not missed a single minute of THIRTEEN matches — while team-mate Alex Hartridge has also started 13 and played more minutes than the Man City star.
    Kyle Walker has played 12 matches for club and country this tem and is “exhausted”
    But Exeter City captain Will Aimson has played 13 and is not “exhausted”
    I decided to give Aimson a call because I was intrigued to know if he was “exhausted” having played more matches than Walker, who is now up to 12, over the same time period.
    “No, I’m feeling great,” Aimson told me as he was excitedly preparing for game No13 against Northampton on Saturday.
    And how is he finding riding on buses before and after games — especially the huge schlep for Carlisle?
    He laughed: “I had a couple of seasons previously at Plymouth so am used to it!“But we pass the time well — playing a few games, catching the late Premier League kick-offs if they’re on and building a rapport.”
    There are countless lower league footballers like Aimson who play 90 minutes twice a week and must endure long coach journeys to and from games.
    You also must remember clubs in the six divisions immediately below the Premier League play eight extra league games a season.
    And it’s even more difficult when you get into non-league. Imagine being a semi-pro at Dover Athletic and having a job on a building site but having to endure a 10-hour round coach trip to Truro City in the National League South.
    I wonder how “exhausted” some of those players are.
    But, thankfully, not everyone in the golden corridors of the Premier League have such a blinkered view of competitions like the Carabao Cup.
    Take West Ham’s Tomas Soucek for example.
    I had a chat with the Czech midfielder after the Hammers survived a huge scare at League One club Lincoln to win 1-0 on Wednesday thanks to his winning goal.
    Tomas Soucek loves playing lower-league teams and scored the winner at Lincoln
    And he told me: “I love these cup matches against lower league opponents because you can see how excited their players are to face a Premier League club.
    “The atmosphere at EFL grounds like this are sometimes better than it is in the Premier League.
    “It’s not a big stadium but the atmosphere is perfect. I love it because we all know where we came from. It’s great to play in this competition.”
    The atmosphere at EFL grounds like Lincoln are sometimes better than it is in the Premier League.Tomas Soucek, West Ham
    Soucek has hit the nail on the head. These matches are huge for clubs like Lincoln. 
    The Carabao Cup is worth an estimated £50MILLION a season to the EFL — which is a lifeline to clubs in the three divisions below the Prem.
    Yes, I know — it’s small change to Guardiola when you consider he spent £210m on four signings this summer. 
    Let’s hope £78m Josko Gvardiol didn’t get too exhausted playing 90 minutes at Newcastle and having to hop on a coach for that damn two-hour ride home.
    Wednesday are a huge turn off
    I MUST have witnessed the shortest fan attendance of the season at Hillsborough on Friday night.
    A Sheffield Wednesday supporter, looking flustered and out of breath, arrived 10 minutes late for their game against Sunderland. 
    He took to his seat, then looked up at the scoreboard to see his team were already 2-0 down, promptly stood up again and walked out!
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    What a sad indictment of how bad things have become for the Owls that fans cannot bear to watch another minute of the shower of rubbish being served up in front of them.
    He would have been better off staying at home to watch Dragons’ Den. Who knows maybe some boffin could invent something new on the show — like a winning Sheffield Wednesday football team! More

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    How Matheus Nunes forced through £53m Man City transfer by ‘refusing to train’ and ‘fiery altercation with Wolves staff’

    MATHEUS NUNES is set to return to Molineux on Saturday for the first time since forcing his way out of Wolves last month.The midfielder began the season with Gary O’Neil’s side and started their first two matches of the campaign.
    Matheus Nunes signed for Man City last monthCredit: Alamy
    The midfielder had begun the season with WolvesCredit: Getty
    When Man City came in for him, however, he instantly had his heart set on moving on.
    Wolves forked out £38million to sign Nunes from Sporting Lisbon in the summer of 2022.
    On August 24 this year they rejected an opening £47m bid from City, who had just lost Kevin De Bruyne to injury.
    According to the Telegraph, Nunes was urged to “stay calm and behave professionally” by Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs.
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    Wolves chiefs are claimed to have told the 25-year-old to be patient, informing him that the deal, while plausible, would have to be done on their terms.
    The report adds that Nunes took the news badly, leaving Wolves’ training ground an hour after the meeting with Hobbs – even taking his boots with him.
    He then never reported for duty at Wolves again, boycotting training.
    A £53million move was finally agreed on August 30 after City had explored a potential swoop for Eberechi Eze, granting Nunes his dream transfer.
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    Despite arriving to much fanfare in a record deal, Nunes managed just one goal and one assist in 41 appearances for Wolves.
    He has so far played four times for City, laying on an assist against Nottingham Forest.
    The former Sporting star had impressed Pep Guardiola enough with his performances in Portugal prior to joining Wolves to prompt a summer swoop.
    After a Champions League clash between City and Sporting two seasons ago, Guardiola called Nunes one of the “best players in the world”.
    This week he backtracked from those comments, saying: “Maybe I over-exaggerated a little bit. He’s not [one of the best players in the world].
    “He is a really good player but sometimes, maybe I said this comment after a 5-0 win, it was actually 5-0? But he’s an exceptional player.”
    Meanwhile, former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui has spoken out on his dramatic Molineux exit on the eve of the season.
    The Spaniard told The Athletic: “Something changed.
    “And once things changed, more than I could have thought, it was then a case of deciding what to do.”
    Julen Lopetegui has addressed his Wolves exitCredit: PA More

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    Footie stars biggest fashion own goals from Haaland’s pyjama suit to Pogba’s cape – who do you think looks the worst?

    HE’S a self-styled king of fashion with a £10m Gucci deal but Jack Grealish has been labelled Man City’s worst dressed player.It appears the winger scored an own goal after last year rating his teammates’ fashion sense on the club’s YouTube channel – and now they’ve got their revenge.
    Manchester City winger Jack Grealish was labelled the worst dressed footballer in the squad by his teammatesCredit: Eroteme
    He gave himself an A for style while downgrading Ruben Dias to a D and giving Kevin De Bruyne a C.
    Now Spanish midfielder Rodri – whose style Grealish described as “awful, awful” – has kicked the winger’s ego into touch in an interview accusing Grealish of actually being the worst dressed.
    The stunned winger, who has a six figure deal with BoohooMAN as well as Gucci, posted the clip on his Instagram page with a shocked face emoji.
    With sportsmen scoring big as fashion idols, bagging deals worth millions with brands such as Burberry, Dior and Superdry, there’s everything to play for when it comes to power dressing.
    READ MORE JACK GREALISH
    But there have been plenty of footie fashion faux pas over the years… and Grealish isn’t alone.
    Would he make the worst dressed XI All Stars team?
    Here are the stars who would be kicked into touch by the fashion police.
    Raheem Sterling
    Chelsea and England winger Raheem Sterling may need some longer trousersCredit: sterling7/instagram
    A JACKET that hangs off the shoulders may become tyre-some for Raheem – whose puffed-up outfit could be a nod to the Michelin Man.
    Most read in Football
    And we won’t even ask about those breeches, which make him look like a jockey.
    Surely he’ll not keep this look up furlong!
    Tom Davies
    Sheffield United’s Tom Davies wearing a dressing gownCredit: Getty
    DRESSING down or dressing GOWN?
    Former Everton ace Tom loves to make a statement with his clothing, and this get-up is no exception.
    He may have been going for a casual vibe, but looks more like he’s in his pyjamas ready for bed.
    You snooze, you lose, Tom.
    Dani Alves
    Former Barcelona defender Dani Alves is one of the best of his generation, on the pitchCredit: PA
    BRAZILIAN defender Dani could give Hugh Jackman a run for his money in this Greatest Showman-style suit, which he wore to a party in Paris back in 2019.
    Erling Haaland
    Record setting Norwegian striker Erling Haaland is not afraid to stand outCredit: BackGrid
    MANCHESTER City player Haaland is a ray of sunshine in this bright yellow shirt and trouser set.
    They could be posh PJs – or even 1970s- inspired party gear.
    James Maddison
    Spurs midfielder James Maddison has been on fire so far this seasonCredit:
    THE Tottenham icon is perhaps hoping to get a-head in the fashion stakes in this bucket hat, shorts and t-shirt combo.
    He’d fit right in at Glastonbury festival.
    Paul Pogba
    Paul Pogba may have been trying to keep a low profile with this unusual outfitCredit: BackGrid
    FRENCH footballer Pogba is a hero on the pitch – and off it, too, so it seems.
    The Juventus star channelled his inner superhero in this wacky hooded cape.
    Hector Bellerin
    Former Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin is as well known for his wacky style as he is for his performancesCredit: Getty
    THERE’s nowhere to hide for the Spanish right-back in this striking black leather coat.
    His laidback look, complete with shades, echoes Keanu Reeves’ in The Matrix.
    Oli McBurnie
    Striker Oli McBurnie’s odd tracksuit looks like it belongs a few decades ago
    SHEFFIELD United icon McBurnie goes for man of the match in this red and brown tracksuit co-ord.
    Wonder if the knee-highs are for added socks appeal?
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    Dominic Calvert-Lewin
    This outfit is actually a tame one compared to some of the outlandish styles Dominic Calvert-Lewin has tried outCredit: Getty
    Everton player Dominic channels the Man from Del Monte in this number at last year’s Emporio Armani fashion show.
    He’s quite partial to a pastel and has also been spotted in a pink suit. More

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    Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool ‘to rival City in race for £50m-rated Brentford star after red-hot start to 2023-24’

    MANCHESTER CITY are facing competition from three Premier League rivals for Brentford’s Aaron Hickey.Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United have joined the race and are ready to make bids for the £50million-rated Scottish defender.
    Liverpool, Man Utd and Arsenal have joined Man City in the race to sign Aaron HickeyCredit: Getty
    The 21-year-old full-back has been in remarkable form for both club and country – attracting interest from a the Premier League’s big-hitters in the process.
    SunSport exclusively revealed earlier this year that City were chasing Hickey, who was then rated at £30m.
    And Pep Guardiola remains keen on the Bees star, despite seeing his side win six out of six in a flawless start to the season.
    But it won’t be easy, with the Mirror reporting title rivals Arsenal and Liverpool, as well as neighbours United interested too.
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    German giants Bayern Munich who already poached Harry Kane from the Prem this summer, are also keen.
    And Hickey’s performances have seen his price-tag continue to rise too, with Brentford set to demand at least £50m.
    Bees boss Thomas Frank will be gutted if he loses another key asset with Rico Henry sidelined due to a serious knee injury, and suspended talisman Ivan Toney set to depart in January.
    Frank spoke about Hickey’s versatility and importance in the Bees squad.
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    He said: “With Aaron there is a lot of talk about whether he is a right back or a left-back, but I am in that privileged position that he can play on both sides and will most likely go on the left.
    “He is both-footed and has huge ability, we don’t have that many full-backs so he is very important.
    “He is a player we signed a year ago with big ambitions and his future and it is going in the right direction for him.”
    Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has made it clear how much he rates Hickey’s ability to play on either flank and is ready to fight for his signature.
    United meanwhile are desperate to add to their full-backs with Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka suffering injuries.
    Liverpool are keen to reboot what Jurgen Klopp is calling ‘Liverpool 2.0’ with youthful talent and Hickey fits the bill perfectly.
    The Brentford star started out as a left-back for Hearts before making his way to the Serie A side Bologna in 2020.
    Hickey then made his debut in 2022 for the Premier League and has since made a remarkable start under Frank. More

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    Jack Grealish named Man City’s worst dressed player despite seeing himself as style icon & £10m Gucci deal

    FOOTBALLER Jack Grealish has been named Manchester City’s worst dressed player — despite seeing himself as a trendsetter.Winger Grealish, 28, had previously said his team-mate Rodri had the most offensive clobber, describing it as “awful”.
    Jack Grealish has been named Manchester City’s worst dressed player
    In an interview, his team-mate Rodri said he thinks Grealish is the club’s worst dressed playerCredit: Mega
    But the tables were turned on the England star when the Spanish midfielder said in an interview that he thought Grealish was the club’s worst dressed player.
    Grealish posted the clip on his Instagram page alongside a shocked face emoji.
    In the interview, 27-year-old Rodri is asked who is the worst-dressed on the team.
    He replies: “They say it’s me but I don’t agree. I think it’s Jack.”
    read more on jack grealish
    When Grealish was asked the same question in May, he said: “Rodri. He’s awful. Awful.”
    It comes after Brummie Grealish landed a £10million sponsorship deal with Gucci.
    He also signed a £10million-a-season deal to become the face of sports brand Puma until 2028.
    Johan Adamsson, Puma’s global director of sports marketing and sports licensing, said: “He turns heads on and off the pitch with his quick feet and personal style.”
    Most read in Football
    Grealish also got a six-figure sum for a clothing collaboration with BoohooMAN.
    An Instagram fan page is dedicated to his outfits and he has been dubbed “the most marketable footballer since David Beckham”, with brands desperate for a piece of the player.
    Brand marketing expert Andy Barr said: “One of the reasons why organisations are queueing up to try and work with Grealish is because he does not yet realise that he is more than just an elite level sports person, he is actually now a global brand.”
    Grealish, said to earn £300,000 a week at Manchester City, became the most expensive footballer in British history when he joined the club from Aston Villa in a £100million deal.
    Grealish has landed a £10million deal with GucciCredit: Instagram
    The football star also signed a deal to become the face of PumaCredit: BackGrid
    Man City star Rodri said: ”They say it’s me but I don’t agree. I think it’s Jack’Credit: INSTAGRAM More